Detachable connector for structural members

ABSTRACT

The fastening fitting is used for detachable connection of two structural members, especially for detachable connection of two structural members butting together at right angles, for example a furniture side wall with a furniture top panel, a furniture floor, a furniture intermediate floor, and so on. This fitting comprises a holding element, which can be inserted into a hole of a first structural member, a pin which can be inserted into a hole in the second structural member and an anchoring screw which engages with an opening in the pin. The pin and the holding element are connected by a compressible section preferably by an elastically compressible section, which section can be compressed at least in direction of the anchoring screw. At a preferred embodiment the holding element, the pin and the compressible section are integrally made or formed as one unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fittings for detachable connection of two structural members, esp. fortwo furniture members butting together at right angles are generallyknown and are used in the furniture industry for connection ofplate-shaped furniture components. The fittings ensure a rapid and, ifnecessary, at all times detachable connection of furniture components,whereby it is especially also possible to deliver the furnitureconcerned, for saving of transport space and for the reduction oftransport costs, in dismantled condition to the user and for assemblingthe individual furniture components there into a complete furnitureunit. The known fittings are used especially in such a manner that thepins formed on the holding element are inserted into a prepared hole ina furniture side wall so that this pin is able to transmit the weight ofanother furniture component which is at right angles to the furnitureside wall (furniture top panels, furniture floors or furnitureintermediate floors) on the furniture side wall. In order to preventdisplacement of this other furniture component in relation to thefurniture side wall, an opening is also provided on the underside ofthis other furniture component, and the holding element engages withthis opening, whereby this holding element is fastened, by means of ananchoring screw in the longitudinal hole in the pin, to the furnitureside wall.

The known fittings have especially the disadvantages that they do notensure firm clamping of the structural members or of the furniturecomponents merely by tightening or by the tightening rotation of theanchoring screw.

The objective of the invention is to overcome this disadvantage and todesign a fastening fitting which can be rapidly and simply fastened onthe structural members to be joined together and which at the same timeclamps said members together, against each other, only by using ananchoring screw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For solving this problem the invention proposes a fastening fitting fordetachable connection of two structural members especially for twostructural members butting together at right angles, for example afurniture side wall with a furniture top panel, a furniture floor, afurniture intermediate floor and so on with a holding element which canbe inserted into a hole in the first structural member and with a pinwhich can be inserted into a hole in the second structural member aswell as with an anchoring screw which engages with an opening in saidpin, wherein the pin and the holding element are connection by acompressible section, preferably by an elastically compressible section,which section can be compressed at least in the direction of theanchoring screw.

The invention provides a number of very important advantages. In thefirst place the fastening fitting in accordance with the inventionconsists of only a few, simply and economically produced individualcomponents, i.e. the anchoring screw as well as an element consisting ofa holding element and the pin. The structural members can be fastenedsimply and rapidly to each other by means of the fastening fitting inaccordance with the invention, because the anchoring screw which is anyway necessary for anchoring the pin is used at the same time also forclamping or pressing the structural members together against each other.In addition, the fastening fitting in accordance with the inventionensures that at the assembled structural components the parts of thefastening fitting, especially in a piece of furniture, are not visibleoutside and hence they do not spoil the appearance.

At a preferred embodiment of the invention the holding element, the pinand the compressible section are integrally formed as one piece or unit.

The compressible section may be formed by a wall section of the holdingelement, which wall section is at right angles to the pin, and whereinthe pin is moulded integrally on said wall section and wherein the wallsection owing to the properties or characteristics of the material usecan be deformed at tightening of the anchoring screw.

Furthermore, there may be provided an opening in the holding element forforming the wall section, which opening runs at right angles to the pinand which opening is preferably wider than the pin diameter, wherein thepin is integrally moulded on a first wall section of this opening, whichwall section faces away from the remaining holding element.

The second wall section of said opening, the section facing theremaining holding element, is less deformable than the first wallsection, wherein the anchoring screw is passed through a bore hole insaid second wall section and rests by its head on that side of thesecond wall section, which side faces away from the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now explained in detail by means of the drawingsshowing embodiments in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of afastening fitting according to the invention together with two flatplate shaped structural members;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fitting according to FIG. 1 seenfrom below, i.e. in the viewing direction along the arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to 5 show the fastening fitting according to FIG. 1 in a viewfrom below, in section along the line I--I as well as in the plan view;

FIG. 6 is a section through both structural members as well as throughthe fastening fitting according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective exploded view of a further embodiment of thefastening fitting according to the invention together with both buildingcomponents;

FIGS. 8a to 8d show the fastening fitting according to FIG. 7 viewedfrom below, i.e. in the direction of the arrow B of FIG. 7, in sectionalong the line II--II, in plan view and in front side view;

FIG. 9 is a cross section through both structural elements as well asthrough the fastening fitting according to FIG. 7.

In the figures, 1 represents a first plate shaped structural element,for example a furniture side wall, and 2 represents a second plateshaped structural element, for example a furniture top panel, which areto be fastened to each other in such a manner, that the furniture topplate 2 butts with its end edge or face 2' against the inside surface ofthe furniture side wall 1 and is at right angles to the furniture sidewall 1, as shown for example in FIGS. 6 and 9.

In FIGS. 1 to 6 a fastening fitting 3 is used for detachable connectionof the furniture top panel 2 with the furniture side wall 1; thisfastening fitting 3 consists of a basically cylindrical holding element4 together with an integrally formed pin 5. The pin 5, in the embodimentshown, is designed as an expanding pin with a longitudinal slot 6 whichis on the underside of the pin in the fitted condition, in which thedepth of this longitudinal slot increases from its holding piece 4 endtowards the far end, away from the holding piece, so that an inclinedcontact face is formed for the anchoring or the expanding screw 7, whichis inclined from its head end towards its screw thread point end towardsthe top face 4' of the holding element 4, which top face faces theclosed end or bottom of the hole or bore 12 of the furniture top panel2.

In the region of the pin end adjacent to the holding element 4 theholding element 4 has a longitudinal slot 8 which is open on the upperside 4'; this slot 8 is at right angles to the pin 5 and is longer thanthe diameter of this pin. The pin 5 is formed on the remaining wallsection 9 of the longitudinal slot 8, so that this wall, owing to theinherent elasticity of the material used, for example plastics material,provides an elastic or a flexible connection between the holding element4 and the pin 5. The longitudinal slot 8 is closed on the holdingelement 4 underside 4" which faces away from the underside of thefurniture top panel 2. The wall section 9' of the longitudinal slotwhich faces the remaining holding element 4, is, owing to its greaterwall strength or thickness, less deformable than the wall section 9 andit has a bore hole 10 for the anchoring screw 7, in which the bore 10 isterminating in the opening 11 which is open towards the underside 4" aswell as towards that end of the holding element 4 which faces away fromthe pin 5, and the opening 11 accommodates the head of the anchoringscrew, which head rests against that outside face of the wall section 9,which outside face faces away from the longitudinal slot 8 (FIG. 6).

The holding element 4 is inserted into the sideways open hole 12 on theunderside of the furniture top panel 2 in order to connect the twofurniture components 1 and 2, so that the pin 5 projects beyond the endface 2' of the furniture top panel 2 and this pin can be inserted intothe hole 13 on the inside face of the furniture side wall 1. Theanchoring or the expanding screw 7 is now rotated through the bore 10into the longitudinal slot 6 and it expands the pin 5, which is pressedby its hooking ribs 14, on its outside circumference, into the materialof the furniture side walls. The elastic connection of the pin 5 withthe holding element 4 via the wall section 9 of the longitudinal slot 8ensures that on tightening of the anchoring screw 7 the holding element4 is moved at its upper face 4' by deformation of the wall section 9 orby narrowing the longitudinal slot 8, towards the furniture side wall 1and it is rotated about the bottom 8' of the longitudinal slot 8 indirection of the arrow C of the FIG. 4, so that the end face 2' of thefurniture top panel 2 is firmly pressed against the inside faces of thefurniture side wall 1. The rotating or tilting of the holding element 4in the direction of the arrow C of FIG. 4 relative to the furniture sidewall 1 or to the pin 5 ensures also a tilting of the holding element 4in the bore 12 of the furniture top panel 2 which will counteract anyundesirable displacement of the holding piece 4 from the hole 12 as wellas an undesirable loosening of the furniture components 1 and 2.

If now it is not intended to make use of this additional securing by thetilting of the holding element 4, in relation to the furniture side wall1 or the pin 5, then it is also possible to form the longitudinal slot 8to pass right through from the upper face 4' to the underside 4" of theholding element 4. In this embodiment it is also achieved that theholding element 4 is moved towards the furniture side wall 1 ontightening of the anchoring screw 7, so that the end face 2' of thefurniture top panel 2 is firmly pressed against the inside face of thefurniture sidewall 1.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show a fastening fitting 20, which differs from thefastening fitting 3 in FIGS. 1 to 6 only by the feature that the holdingelement is formed by an angle piece 21 with integrally moulded pinshaped projection 22 on one face. On the other face of the angle piece21 is moulded a pin 23, which corresponds to the pin 5 of the fasteningfitting 3. At the junction between the pin 23 with the angle piece 21 alongitudinal slot 24 is provided between the pin 23 and the angle piece21 in order to ensure an elastic connection between the pin 23 and theangle piece 21, which corresponds to the longitudinal slot 8 in thefastening fitting 3 and which forms a flexible wall or wall section 25on that side of this longitudinal slot which faces away from theremaining angle piece 21. The pin 23 is moulded on the wall section 25.The wall section or wall 25' of the longitudinal slot which wall or wallsection faces the remaining angle piece 21 is also less elasticallydesigned in this embodiment example than the wall section 25 due togreater wall strength or thickness.

The pin shaped projection 22 is inserted into the bore 12' on theunderside of the furniture top panel 2 for joining the furniture toppanel 2 to the furniture side wall 1 and the pin 23 is pushed into thehole 13 of the furniture sidewall 1. On screwing in the anchoring orexpanding screw 7 the pin 23 is expanded and at the same time, owing tothe elastic connection between the pin 23 and the angle piece 21, theangle piece 21 is rotated in the direction of the arrow D of FIG. 8btowards the furniture side wall 1, so that the furniture top plate 2 ispressed with its end face 2' firmly against the furniture side wall 1and at the same time the pin shaped projection 22 is anchored in thehole 12' by tilting.

In the fastening fitting 20 the pin 23 is also designed as an expandingpin with a longitudinal slot 26 which is open towards onecircumferential side, in which the longitudinal slot has either aconstant width or, alternatively, it has a keyhole shaped cross section,which is formed by a circular cross section part of greater width foraccommodating of the anchoring or the expanding screw 7, this circularcross section part being inclined towards the axis of the pin 23 orranning at an angle to the axis of the pin 23.

The fastening fittings 3 and 20 consist preferably of an elasticmaterial, especially of an elastic plastics material. However, it isalso possible to use for these fastening fittings other materials whichensure an elastic or permanent deformation of the wall 9 to 25 ontightening rotation of the anchoring or the expanding screw 7.

What I claim is:
 1. A fastening fitting for detachable connection of twostructural members especially for two structural members buttingtogether at right angles, for example a furniture side wall with afurniture top panel, a furniture floor, a furniture intermediate floorand so on, with a holding element which can be inserted into a hole inthe first structural member and with a pin which can be inserted into ahole in the second structural member as well as with an anchoring screwwhich engages with an opening in said pin, wherein the pin and theholding element are connected by a compressible section, which sectioncan be compressed at least in the direction of the anchoring screw.
 2. Afastening fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding element,the pin and the compressible section are integrally formed as one pieceor unit.
 3. A fastening fitting as claimed in claim 1, wherein thesection is formed by a wall section of the holding element, which wallsection is at right angles to the pin and wherein the pin is mouldedintegrally on this wall section and wherein the wall section, owing tothe properties of the material used, can be deformed at tightening ofthe anchoring screw.
 4. A fastening fitting according to claim 3,wherein for the formation of the wall section in the holding element afurther opening is provided which runs at right angles to the pin, andwherein the pin is integrally moulded on a first wall section of thisfurther opening which wall section faces away from the remaining holdingelement.
 5. A fastening fitting according to the claim 4, wherein asecond wall section of said further opening the section facing theremaining holding element is less deformable than the first wall sectionand wherein the anchoring screw is passed through a hole through thesecond wall section and rests by its head on that side of the secondwall section which faces away from the further opening.
 6. A fasteningfitting according to claim 4, wherein the further opening projects inthe direction at right angles to the surface of the first structuralmember.
 7. A fastening fitting according to claim 4, wherein the furtheropening is closed on that side of the holding element which side facesaway from the first structural member.
 8. A fastening fitting accordingto claim 4, wherein the further opening is a longitudinal slot withbasically rectangular cross section.
 9. A fastening fitting according toclaim 1, wherein the pin is an expanding pin.
 10. A fastening fittingaccording to any one of claim 1, wherein the pin opening for theanchoring screw runs at an angle to the pin axis.
 11. A fasteningfitting according to claim 1, wherein the opening in the pin for theanchoring screw is at least partly open sideways, so that the anchoringscrew is pressed with one part of its circumference beyond the pincircumference into the material of the second structural member.
 12. Afastening fitting according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is acup shaped and/or essentially a cylindrical body which can be insertedinto the hole of the first structural member.
 13. A fastening fittingaccording to claim 1, wherein the holding element is an angle piece, onwhose one face is moulded the pin and on whose second face is moulded apin shaped projection which latter engages with the hole in the secondstructural member.
 14. A fastening fitting according to claim 1, whereinthe holding element is made from elastic plastics material.
 15. Afastening fitting according to claim 1, wherein the compressible sectionis an elastically compressible section.
 16. A fastening fittingaccording to claim 4, wherein the further opening is wider than the pindiameter.
 17. A fastening fitting according to claim 9, wherein theexpanding pin has a serrated hocking profile.